Blanking thin gauge material



March 24, 1970 J. BARAN BLANKING THIN GAUGE MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 51, 1967 1 N VEN TOR.

JOHN BAQAN,

March 24, 1970 J. BARAN BLANKING THIN GAUGE MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed Oct. 31, 1967 (M I sv RU N%\ S 93 L.L m ww on Q $8 March 24, 1970 J. BARAN 3,501,985

BLANKING THIN GAUGE MATERIAL Filed 001;. 51, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 JOHN BARAN,

4 T OENE Y.

March 24, 19 70 J. BARAN BLANKING THIN GAUGE MATERIAL Filed Oct. 31, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JOH N B A E A N United States Patent 3,501,985 BLANKING THIN GAUGE MATERIAL John Bar-an, P.O. Box 207, Kensington, Conn. 06037 Filed Oct. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 679,302 Int. Cl. B26d 7/06; B26f 1/14 U.S. CI. 83-88 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Foil blanking apparatus having a repetitive die and cutter engageable intermittently with an advancing strip of material, and having an indexed tray for sequential stacking of finished blanks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention pertains to machinery for blanking foils and other materials having like properties. The machine is employable for the formation of blanks of different sizes and shapes, and arranges the blanks in a manner in which they are readily adapted for further handling.

Description of the prior art At present, foil and like material is blanked from roll or sheet stock into round or irregular shapes by close fitting male and female dies with sharp cutting edges. As the gauge of the material becomes thinner and the blank area larger, the clearance between the dies becomes :more critical and is more difficult to make and maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the blanking or shearing of metallic foils, film, and other thin gauge materials, and has as a basic objective the provision of apparatus for severance of foil or like material in a preselected pattern with uniformity and at a rapid rate of production. Related advantages of the concept herein developed concern the provision of machinery of the character indicated which includes means for engagement of the material to be iblanked prior to severance of the blank whereby uniformity of blank dimension and configuration is maintained, and wherein the severance means does not become worn to an extent adversely affecting the uniformity of the blanks throughout repeated use.

The apparatus hereof is manufactured principally from readily available components and is therefore relatively non-complex in design and operation, readily altered for change of blank pattern, and inexpensive to manufacture and use.

In the handling of blanks of thin gauge material following the blanking and severance operations, difiiculties have been encountered in the transfer to other locations of the blanks, and in their employment in other operations. The present invention provides new and novel blank disengagement means effectively transferring the blanks from the severance position to a specially developed tray. The tray is mounted for indexing movement so as to arrange the blanks in positions in which they are unlikely to adhere to one another and thus complicate future usage.

An important structural innovation of this invention 3,501,985 Patented Mar. 24, 1970 centers about the coactive relation of a compressible die assembly and a group of severing pins, with a sequentially advanced supply of material for blanking. The employment of pins as a severance media provides for uniform cutting of the material, during the interval in which the material is engaged by the die assembly, thereby eliminating tearing or malfunction of the blank by reason of bunching or agglomeration occasioned by pre-contact of the material with the cutting means.

Still another objective of the invention is, in a device of the type indicated, to interrelate the advance of the material to be blanked to the indexing of the removal tray means and to the action of the severance means, whereby no two blanks are in direct, juxtaposed contact in the tray and fresh material is placed in position for action of the severance means on each cycle of operation hereof.

The invention additionally supplies means associated with the severance means and die assembly for removal of a severed :blank and for its placement into the tray means.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a partial top plan view showing apparatus constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view thereof taken substantially on the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing details, taken substantially along the section line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, partially in section, from substantially the plane of line 44 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, disassembled sectional view showing details of a portion of the severance means hereof;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the blank storage tray means, seen from the plane of line 66 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the severance assembly, taken on section line 7-7 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 8 is a disassembled perspective view of components of the severance assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In reference to the drawings, and initially to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will there be observed that an embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration of the invention hereof is generally identified by reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is employed in a shop, factory, laboratory, or the like and is mounted on a floor or other supporting surface (not shown). A suitable supporting framework 12 for the apparatus is provided and is of optional design, including a plurality of supporting legs 14 which engage the aforesaid supporting surface. An elongated lower table 16 of stationary, preferably metallic construction is mounted between the legs, and is oriented substantially parallel to the supporting surface whereby it has a flat upper face 18. An upper table 20, having an upper side 22 and a lower side 24, is connected between the legs 14 above and substantially parallel to the lower table. For purposes of description, the table has a forward end 26 and an opposite, rear end 28.

A support assembly 30 for material to be acted upon by the apparatus includes upstanding extensions 32 and longitudinal bar supports 34 which extend between and are fixed to the legs 14 adjacent the forward end of the upper table and the extensions 32 are provided at each side of the device. The bar supports 34 include angle portions 36, 38 and a connecting portion 40 which bridges the angle portions. A cross bar 42 has end members 44 thereon which support a rotatable cross axle 46 with a roll 48 of material to be blanked, such as aluminum foil, film, or the like, thereon. A cross axle 50 extends between the connecting portions 40 and outer arms 52 are pivoted thereon at each side of the machine. The outer arms 52 support a roller axle 54 at their distal ends which has a pressing roller 56 thereon. Immediately beneath the roller 56 and vertically aligned therewith is a support roller 58 mounted on an axle 60 spanning the bar supports 34. A spring 62 connected to each of the arms 52 constantly biases the roller 56 against the support roller 58 for a purpose which will appear below. Additionally pivoted on the cross axle 50 are elongated levers 64. The levers are connected on the axle intermediate their upper and lower ends 66, 68, and the upper ends carry an axle for a roller advance cylinder 72. The cylinder 72 is maintained in contact with the roll 48 of the material as it is exhausted by a spring 74 extending between the lower ends 68 of the lever and a frame element 76. The levers 64 include an angle plate 78 which serves as a stripper for the even unreeling of the material from the roll. As indicated by the dotted line in FIGURE 2, the material F extends from the roller 48 between the pressing rollers 72 and the angle plate 78. It is then directed under a tension bar 80 mounted on rod 82 freely pivoted in a bearing 84 on the lower table 16. The bar 80 is of a weight such that the material is retained during the severance operation in the position shown in FIGURE 2, wherein it is downwardly angled before passing upwardly again between the sup port roller 58 and pressing roller 56. During an unwinding sequence, the increased tension on the material lifts the bar 80 momentarily, feeding the advanced material onto the upper table. Adjacent the end 28 of the upper table an additional pair of vertically aligned upper and lower rollers 86 and 88 respectively are provided. The roller 88 is mounted on an axle 90 extended between frame mounted brackets 92, and the upper roller 86 is mounted on an axle 94 also secured between side brackets 96.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the action of the bar 80 may be employed in controlling the sequence of operation of other portions of the machine by suitable switch means (not shown).

Drive means for advance of material F from the roll 48 and across the upper table 20 is seen in FIGURE 1 and comprises a first motor 98 on the side mounted platform 100, and a second motor 102 on a platform 104 at the opposite side of the framework. Motor 98 has a suitable speed regulation system and a housing 106 with a drive chain 108 secured operatively to a sprocket 110 on a main drive axle 112. The axle 112 is mounted in a bearing assembly 114 which includes a spring mounted tension take-up element 116. The axle 112 carries a sprocket 118 at its outer end on which a chain 120 is entrained. The chain 120 extends about an idler sprocket 122 on a stub axle 124 and about a connecting sprocket 126 on an axle 128 which also carries a drive sprocket wheel 130. An elongated link chain 132 is operatively mounted on the sprocket wheel and on a sprocket 134 of the axle 94. Each of the rollers is constructed of a material adapted to grip the foil, whereby rotation of the roller 86 results 4 in a pulling action thereon. The motor 102 drives a chain 136 connected to a sprocket 138 on the axle 50. A second sprocket 140 is mounted on the outer extremity of said axle, and has a chain 142 connected to a sprocket 144 on the axle 70. Thus, the motor 102 drives the rollers 72 to rotate the roller 48 and dispense the material therefrom. It will be understood that suitable control means as discussed above (not shown) is provided for the intermittent operation of the motors 98 and 102, and that their operation is started and stopped substantially simultaneously.

The upper table 20 has opposite side members 146 mounted at its sides and extending longitudinally thereof. These side members carry inwardly projecting rods 148 to which are connected guide flanges 150 to maintain the rectilinear path of travel of the material along the table.

A main component of the blank severance assembly 152 hereof is a die member 154 here shown as being of open, annular form, but subject to variance in configuration according to the shape of the blank desired. The die member 154 has an opening wall 156, and is counterbored to provide a step section 158. Frictionally seated within the step section is an annular ring member 160, the inner wall 162 of which is vertically arranged and smooth. The die member has two vertical openings 164, 166 formed therein on diametrically opposite sides thereof. These openings receive the reduced ends 168 of a pair of platform support bars 170 which also have reduced diameter, externally threaded upper ends 172. A platform 174 has boss members 176 at diametrically opposite sides thereof, and the members 176 have vertical openings 178 which receive the upper reduced ends 172 of the support bars. The said ends 172 project outwardly through the platform 174 and nuts 180 retain the platform in fixed position thereon. Thus, the platform is mounted in a fixed position over the die member 152.

A bracket plate 182 is connected to the upper face of the platform over a central aperture 184 thereof. Secured on the plate 182 is a conventional air cylinder 186, connected by input and return lines 188, which are connected to pneumatic sources (not shown) such as found in factories and shops. The cylinder 186 includes an extensible rod 192 which is secured to an extension sleeve 194 having a threaded bore 196 at its lower end. FIGURE 3 shows the rod and sleeve in retracted position, while FIGURE 7 indicates the extended locations thereof. In the latter view, it will be observed that a disengaging wheel 198 having a rim 200, spokes 202, and a hub 204 is secured to the lower end of the sleeve 194 by a bolt 206 extended through the hub. The wheel is of a circumference closely fitting through the ring member 160. Thus, the disengaging wheel is movable with the wheel and rod responsive to actuation of the cylinder for a purpose which will appear below.

A further important component of the assembly 152 is a pressure plate 210 (FIGURE 3). The plate 210 has side bosses 212 with openings 214 therein at diametrically spaced locations. Each boss has a reinforcing band 216 thereon. A fitting member 218 is slidably disposed on each supporting bar 170 and each has a reduced end 220 which seats in the opening 214 of the respective bosses 212. A heavy duty coil spring 222 is disposed about each of the bars 170 between the pressure plate 210 and the platform 174 and constantly urges the plate toward the die member 152. The plate has a central orifice 224 which permits free passage of the sleeve 194, but is of a dimension such that the hub 204 of the disengaging wheel 198 abuts the plate on retraction of the sleeve and rod, thereby raising the pressure plate and holding it in an up position so long as the sleeve and rod are in retracted position. Upon extension of the rod and sleeve, however the plate 210 is forcefully moved toward the die by action of the springs 222.

The lower face 226 of the plate 210 has a severance ring 228 secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 230. The details of the ring are best shown in FIGURE 5 wherein it will be observed that a depending projection 232 thereof has a vertical, inwardly inset wall 234 met at a point 236 by an angle wall 238. A feature of substantial importance of the invention is the securing of a continuous plurality of pins 240 about the full peripheral extent of the wall 234 in a continuous succession. Each pin 240 has a pointed tip 242 and a cylindrical section 244, and the cylindrical sections of the succession of pins are in abutting relation to one another.

In FIGURES 2 and 7 it will be observed that an annular pad carrier member 246 having a resilient pad 248 on its lower face is provided. The pad carrier is of substantially the same diameter as the ring member 160 and the latter serves as an anvil against which the pad is thrust in the operation of the machine. At spaced intervals about its circumferential edge portion, the plateform 174 has openings 250 therein. Subjacent these openings are cup-like housing 252 having inner chambers 254. Pistons 256, having enlarged heads 258 are captively slidable in the chambers, the heads abutting a lower shoulder 260 of the housing when in depressed positions. Each piston 256 has a spring stop lug 262. A coil spring 264 is disposed about each housing 252 and piston 256, and seats at its upper end against an enlarged cap 266 on the housing and at its lower end against a seal 268 held from downward movement by the lug 262. The springs 264 resist the upward movement of the plate 210, through which the pistons extend in openings 270 and the pad carrier members 246 which are secured thereto by fastening means 272. By virtue of the action of the springs 264, the member 246, in the downstroke action of the device, precedes the downward movement of the severance ring 228 whereby the pad 248 grips the foil and forces it against the anvil 160 before contact of the needles therewith. This insures a substantial pressing action exerted on the foil which insures uniformity of the cut blank.

The cutting action of the pins is believed clear in the drawings. As the pins contact the foil, it is pierced at the sharpened points 242. Continued downward movement of the points widens the openings until, at the shoulders of the pins, the opening becomes continuous with resultant severance of the foil.

In order to store the blanks for a subsequent reuse in a manner avoiding undesirable co-adherence, the severed blanks B (FIGURE 6) are stored in a tray 274. The tray is mounted on an indexing device 276 of conventional design and powered by a cylinder 278 connected with a pneumatic power supply means by a line 280. The indexing member 276 is mounted on the lower table 16 and the tray 274 is secured on the shaft 280 projecting from the indexing mechanism. Mounted on the shaft is the tray 274 which comprises a base 282 and a tray main body 284 affixed thereby by fasteners 286. The main body 284 includes a base 288, a central block 290 and a rim flange 292. Both the flange and the block 290 have a plurality of curvilinear faces 294, 296, respectively, which are arranged opposite one another. As seen in FIGURE 6, the blanks B are disposed in the individual segments of the tray in overlapping relation, each blank occupying the space between a pair of walls 294, 296. The operation of the machine is such that each advance of the roll of foil and downstroke of the severance ring and pins is accompanied by an actuation of the indexing cylinder 276. Thus, the tray 274 intermittently rotates so that no two blanks are stacked in direct vertical juxtaposition to one another.

It will be observed that the continued downstroke of the disengaging wheel following severance results in placement of the severed blank into the tray thereby preventing any possibility that the blanks will become clogged or will otherwise fail to occupy the correct position in the tray.

Having described and illustrated an embodiment of this invention in some detail, it will be understood that this description and illustration has been offered only by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Blanking machinery for cutting a series of blanks of selected configuration from a roll of metallic foil, the machinery comprising:

a supporting framework including a plurality of legs,

a lower table, and an upper table, and a plurality of cross braces;

the upper table having opposite upper and lower sides and having a forward end and a rear end;

a material stock support assembly, mounted on the framework adjacent the forward end of the upper table, the stock support assembly including a roll stock axle with a roll of foil thereon, and a plurality of advancing and pressing rollers to maintain constant tension on the foil extending from said roll and onto the table;

the table having a shaping die mounted therein with an opening in the die of the configuration of the blank to be cut;

a platform mounted on a plurality of support bars on said table above the die;

a pneumatically actuated cylinder with an extensible plunger on the platform;

a cutting head, comprising a plate mounted on said legs for sliding movement and a ring shaped to fit within the opening of the shaping die;

a plurality of pins secured to said ring in a continuous series about its full peripheral extent, the pins having sharpened tips and enlarged chambers which abut one another and engaging the foil to sever it in blanks;

a pressure pad associated with the cutting head and engaging the foil prior to contact by said pin;

a disengaging plate secured to the extensible plunger of the actuating cylinder and nested within the ring, the disengaging plate being movable against the blank following severance; and

a rotatable tray supported on the lower table of said framework, the tray having a plurality of blank receiving chambers shaped to receive the blank from the disengaging plate in overlapping relation to each other, the tray being indexed upon each downward stroke of the disengaging plate.

2. Blanking machinery for cutting a series of blanks of selected configuration from a continuous metallic foil sheet comprising:

a table having a shaping die mounted thereon with a die opening conforming to the configuration of the blank to be cut; means for feeding said continuous metallic foil across said table and overlying said shaping die; a cutting head supported for reciprocation relative to said table and positioned above said shaping die and said overlying foil; a plurality of pins secured to said cutting head with the sharpened tips depending therefrom, said pins being positioned in abutting fashion to conform to the outline of said shaping die, with the tips engaging the foil to sever the same into blanks; a pressure pad associated with said cutting head and moveable therewith for engaging the foil prior to contact by said pins; and a disengaging plate secured to said reciprocating head and moveable relative to said plurality of pins to eject the blank following severance; and a rotatable tray supported on said table below the line of severance and carrying a plurality of blank receiving chambers to receive respective blanks, sequentially, from said disengaging plate and means for indexing said tray in synchronism with movement of said disengaging plate.

3. The blanking machinery as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pressure pad comprises an annular resilient member positioned circumferentially beyond said plurality of pins and said shaping die carried by said table comprises a second resilient annular member coaxial of said first annular member and underlying said foil sheet.

4. The blanking machinery as claimed in claim 3 wherein said disengaging plate comprises an independently reciprocating disc carried by said cutting head and being normally nested within said plurality of pins, and means comprising an extensible plunger and coupled to said disengaging plate for moving said plate from its nested position to force said blank to pass through said shaping die opening upon severance of the same.

5. The blanking machinery as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cutting head comprises a plate mounted on fixed support for reciprocation towards and away from said table, a ring carried by said plate and configured to fit within the opening of said shaping die, a plurality of pins secured to said ring in a continuous series about its full peripheral extent and having sharpened depending tips to sever said foil into blanks, said pressure pad comprises a first resilient annulus, means for spring-biasing said first resilient annulus toward said shaping die, a second resilient annulus is carried by said shaping die, coaxial with said first resilient annulus and underlying said foil adjacent 20 the periphery of said shaping die opening, means for biasing said first annulus, below the plane of the tips of said pins, and means for selectively raising said first resilient annulus to release said pressure pad from said foil during upward movement of said pin-supporting plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,854 3/1938 Wilcox 83--636 X 2,117,797 5/1938 Flynn et a1. 8397 2,358,026 9/ 1944 Pearson 83123 2,412,066 12/1946 Shear 83-620 X 2,518,838 8/1950 Tempe 83660 3,299,755 1/1967 Russell 83-123 X FOREIGN PATENTS 927,097 4/1955 Germany. 449,549 6/ 1936 Great Britain.

JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

